Elevator lock



ym. 1, w24 www v J. IF., cLANcY ELEVATOR LOCK med May 29. 1919 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented `lana. l, 1924.

UNED lllivlilrl JOHN F. CLANCY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 IIAESTNER @c RECHT COEIPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A'CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

ELEVATOR LOCK.

Application led May 29, 1919. Serial No. 300,663.

To all whom t may concern: y

Be it known that I, JOHN F. CLANOY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevator Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic elevator systems of the general type illustrated in the patent to Brenne, No. 1,209,637, dated December 10, 1916, and comprises means for accomplishing the two primary objects also accomplished by the device of said patent, to wit: preventing the opening of any door unless the car is standing` still at that door, and preventing the starting of the car while any door is open.

One of the Objects of my invention is to provide in an elevator system of the type referred to, a door which may be opened without the use of a hand operated latch.

Another object is to avoid operating the releasing magnets for the lock unless the door is actually moved to open it. An advantage in the structure used to accomplish this object is that in ordinary operation, current is used for the release magnets only when the door is being withdrawn from or returned to locking position. In addition to the last mentioned object, this feature provides for lifting the locking pawl olf the teeth in normal closing, eliminating noise and wear.

In devices of this type one inherent defeet is that if the lock is designed to bolt the door tightly, the door must be shut very carefully, to engage the locking mechanism, and slight bending of the parts in using may easily render the lock diiiicult to engage or wholly inoperative. On the other hand, if thepparts are designed to allow a considerable degree of play, the door rattles when it is closed which is also objectionable. An object of my invention is to provide means for locking the door closely when it is fully closed by the operator and at the same time to provide means for locking the door in a position not quite so close to the jamb and allowing the car to'be operated.

A special object is to provide an emergency release by means of which thedoor may be opened mechanically when the electrical means fails for any reason, without.

taking the lock to pieces.

Another object is to materially diminish the number of moving parts and springs necessary in such a lock, making a simple structure much less likely to get out of order and much cheaper to manufacture than locks of this type have heretofore been.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent upon further description thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a lock embodying my invention with the casing cut away on the lin'e 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of the electric control and power circuits for an elevator using my improved lock.

`Referring to Fig. 1, a casing carries a disk 11 pivoted on flanges 12 and 13 and comprising two circular plates 14 of insulating material spaced apart by a segmental plate 15. A hook 16 projecting from the door of .the elevator shaft engages in a slot 17 cutintothe plates 14 and is adapted to be withdrawn from the casing through an aperture 18. In moving in and out of the casing the hook will engage the walls of the slot 17 and rotate the disk. A series of teeth 19 on the periphery of the disk projecting from the central segmental plate 15. are adapted to engage a spring held locking pawl 2O suitably pivoted at 21. Magnetic means comprising a magnet 22 adapted to attract the upwardly projecting armature 23 on the pawl 2O is provided. for automatically releasing the pawl when the car is standing still opposite the door corresponding to the lock in question.

rIhe electrical connections forthis automatic action will now be described. In Fig. 3, yI have shown connections for an elevator system, three floors being shown for pur- ,oses of illustration. 'Ihe motor (not shown) may be started and stopped by a suitable controller 24:. The motor is connected to a drum diagrammatically indicatedv at 25 for raising and lowering the elevator. The operation of the controller 24 to raise or lower the elevator involves a movement of the arm 26 making contact with the plunger 27, to open the switch 28. The opposite end of this plunger rides on the inclined face of the switch .lever 29 carrying on its other `arm a contact plate 'adapted to open and close a circuit through contacts 30. A. selective circuit closer is :indicated at 31 and is driven by any suitable reduction means diagrammatically indicated at 32 from the drum for the elevator cable. The segment of insulating material 32 carries a contact 33 which as the elevator moves from floor to floor makes contact with a series of fixed contacts 34, 34 and 34 corresponding to the different floors, when the elevator is at or near each floor. Current for operating the release magnets 22 is supplied from any suitable source to line wires 35 and 36. The wire 36 leads to the contact 30 on the switch 28. From the other contact r3() a wire 37 leads to the movable contact 33 on the segment 32. A set of wires 38, 33and 38, one for each floor, lead from the series of contacts 34, 34 .and 34, to contact fingers 39 in the locks at the different floors. From the adjacent contact fingers 40 wires lead through the magnets 22 and suitable leads 41FL tothe other line wire 35. It will be seen that the magnet can only operate to release the locking pawl at any floor whenv contact is made at three points, viz, the switch 28, the selective contact 33, and between the fingers 39 and 40. As the switch 28 can only be closed when the motor is not running and as the contaet33 only connects with the proper wire when the elevator is at or near the level of one of the floors, it will be seen that the car must be standing still at or near somefloor before the door atthat floor can be opened. The last contact between the fingers 39 and 40 which are located side by sidein alignment with the insulating circular plates 14, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is established upon the initial movement of the door, by contact plate 41 extending across the insulating plates `14. The downwardly extending tip 42 of the locking pawl 20 is spaced as shown in Fig. 1, a predetermined distance from the uppermost or first looking tooth 19 when the door is in fully closed position. This space is sufficient to allow the initial movement of the door to rotate the disk and carry the contact plate 41 under the fingers 39 and 40 before the tooth engages the locking pawl. rlhe establishment of this contact actuates the pawl into inoperative position so that the door may be freely opened. lt will be seen, however, that unless the door is moved no current will ever be supplied to the magnets.

The automatic means for preventing movement of the car when any door is opened comprises a 4contact plate 43 on the insulating disks 14 establishing a connection between'a second `set vof lingers 44 and 45. Current for Voperating the controller by means of a controller niagnet46, see 4Fig. 3, is lsupplieil through line wires ,47 and .48..

' The lies Wire 47. seeeeted to 'the rasees 46. A wire 49 leads from the other ten minal of the magnet to the finger 44 at any floor. responding finger 45 to the finger 44 at an adjacent floor and so on until the last floor is 'reached where the finger 45 is connected to the other line wire. A series connection is thus established such that the magnet 46 can only receive current when the contact plates 43 at all floors are in contact with the fingers 44 and 45. The elevator car therefore, cannot be moved when any door is opened far enough to remove this contac from the fingers. 1

In closing the door the spacing of the locking teeth 19 and the two contact plates 41 and 43 around the periphery of the disks is such that the .following five events occur in the order named. First, the contact plate 41 engages fingers 39 and 40 and the pawl 20 is moved to inoperative position. Second, the lowest or last locking tooth 19 passes by the line of motion of the tip 42 of the locking pawl 20. Third, the plate 43 makes contact with the fingers 44 and 45, whereupon it will be possible to operate the controller to start the car. Fourth, the uppermost or first locking tooth 19 passes by the line of motion of the tip 42 of vthe locking pawl 20, and fifth, the contact plate 41 slidesA out from under the lingers 39 and 40 opening the circuit through the release magnet. The operation will be as just described .whenever the door is completely closed before an attempt is made to operate 'the controller. The breaking of the circuit through the release magnet by the plate 41 will let the locking pawl come into operative position above the uppermost locking` tooth and the door will be securely* and closely held in locked position. lf, however, an att/emptis made to operate the controlling circuit simultaneously with or an instant before the complete closure of the door, the completion of the circuit through the plate 43 will allow the controller to operate and start the car. This will occur before complete closure of the door but only after at least one of the locking teeth 19 has passed'the line of motion of the tip 42 of' the pawl 20.V The operation of the controller will open the circuit throulgh the release magnet 22 at Vthe switch 28 so that if the door is moved no further it -will nevertheless be effectively locked by the pawl against opening. e

In its mechanical details the device which I have disclosed is very simple and durable. The fingers 39 and 40, 44 and 45 are all four mounted on a. single insulating block 50 suitably attached to the rear wall of the casing 10. Above this block the release magnet22 is similarly attached to the casing by a simple screw and at the top of the cas ing four binding posts 51 on a single insulating block are adapted to `receive lead A second wire 49 leads from the corwires from the four ngers and also lead wires coming from the outside through a hole 52 shown in dotted lines at the top of Iligs. 1 and 2. The plates 14 and 15 are mounted on an axle 53 turning in holes in the two anges 12 and 18, between which the plates are confined. The notch 54 in the periphery of the plates 14 engages the curved contact. points of the fingers 39 and 40 when the door is thrown open to prevent the disk from rotating too far. Similarly when the door is closed the tips of the fingers slide down a short incline into a similar notch 55. IThe locking pawl is a sim le piece of sheet metal bent into channel fbrm at and below the pivot and having its upwardly projecting end bent back on itself; the resulting double thickness of sheet metal providing an entirely adequate armature for the magnet. The spring 56 for the pawl is a simple strip of steel bent to a U-shape and having its free end lying in the channel formed by the pawl 20. Cover plates 57 enclose and protect all the mechanism in the casing 10.

If, for any reason, such for instance, as the failure of electrical power, the magnet 9.2 cannot be operated to release the lock, it would be impossible for persons in the elevator to get out without taking the lock apart. Means to prevent this inconvenience are provided comprising a plunger 58 having a round head projecting from the wall of the casing opposite the door jamb and extending through a suitable boss 59 'to make contact with and operate the armature 23 ofthe locking pawl. A ksuitable spring 60 holds the plunger in outwardly projected or inoperative position and a suitable cotter pin 6l prevents it-s entire removal from the boss. When necessary the projecting end of the plunger vcan be engaged even when the door is tightly closed by a screw driver or knife blade and forced in to release the pawl.

I claim as my inventionl.. In combination, an elevator, an elevator shaft, a plurality of doors in said shaft and a plurality of locks for said doors, and electrical means permitting each lof said locks to be released only when said elevator is standing still opposite the corresponding dooigsaid means being'rendered operative by the initial movement of the door.

2. In combination, an elevator, an elevator shaft, doors in said shaft, locks for said doors, electric means for releasing said locks, an electric circuit supplying power to said means, means in said circuit operative to prevent current from flowing when said elevator is in motion, means in said circuit operative to prevent current from flowing except when said car is at or near one of the floors, and means in said circuit nor= mally operative to prevent current from flowing adapted upon an initial movement of said door to allow current to flow.

3. In combination, an elevator, an elevator shaft, doors in said shaft, locks for said doors, electric means for releasing said locks, an electric circuit supplying power to said means, means in said circuitoperative to prevent current from flowing when said elevator is in motion, means in said circuit operative to prevent current from flowing except when said car is at or near one of the floors, and means in said circuit normally operative to prevent current from flowing and adapted upon an initial movement of said door to allow current to flow during withdrawal of said door from said lock.

4. In combination, an elevator, an elevator shaft, doors in said shaft, locks for said doors, electric means for releasing said locks, an electric circuit supplying power to said means, means in said circuit operative to prevent current from flowing when said elevator is in motion, means in said circuit operative to prevent current from flowing except when said car is 'at or near one of the floors, and means in said circuit normally operative to prevent current from flowing and adapted upon an initial movement of said door to allow current to How only during withdrawal from and a reentry into said lock of said door.

5. In combination, an elevator shaft, doors in said shaft, locks for said doors, said locks each comprising a movable member, a projection on each of said doors adapted to engage said movable member and move it into locking position, a plurality of pro` jections on said movable member, a locking pawl, said' projections being adapted to move past and be engaged by said locking pawl, electro-magnetic means for releasing said pawland means in the circuit of said electro-magnetic means and carried by said movable member adapted to permit the flow of current during movement of said projections past said pawl in either direction.

6. The combination recited in claim 5, in combination with an elevator, electro- -magnetic means controlling the operation of said elevator, and means carried by said movable member in circuit with said last mentioned electro magnetic means adapted to prevent operation of said elevator when all the projections on said movable member have been moved past said pawl.

7. In a device of the class described an elevator shaft, a door, a projection on said door, means in said shaft adjacent said projection adapted to receive said projection and be moved thereby into a position retaining said projection against withdrawal, means for locking said receiving means in any one of a plurality of locking positions,

electromagnetic means for rendering said locking meansl inoperative, and means carried by said receiving means adapted to complete a circuit through said magnetic means during motion of said receiving means through all of said positions.

8. A lock for automatic elevators comprising, in combination, an elevator shaft, a door in said shaft, a projection on said door, a rotary memberl adapted to receive said projection and to be rotated thereby into locking position, mechanical means for locking said rotary member in any one of a plurality of locking positions, electro-- magnetic means for releasing said mechanical means and a contact plate on said rotary means adapted to complete the circuit through said magnetic releasing means during motion of said rotary means through all of said locking positions in either direc tion.

9. A lock for automatic elevators comprising, in combination, an elevator shaft, a door in said shaft, a projection on said door, a rotary member adapted to receive said projection and to be rotated thereby into locking position, mechanical means for locking said rotary member in any one of a plurality of locking positions, electro?- magnetic means for releasing said mechanical means, a contact plate on said rotary means adapted to complete the circuit through said magnetic releasing'means during motion of said rotary means through all of said locking positions in either direction, and another contact plate on said rotary means adapted by opening` an electric circuit to prevent operation of the elevator after said rotary means has moved past the last of said locking positions.

10. In an automatic lock for an elevator system, a pivoted disk of insulating material, a notch in the periphery of said disk adapted to engage a moving element and be moved thereby, means for locking said disk against movement in one direction, and electrical means including a contact plate on said disk adapted to opera-te a control circuit to release said locking means.

11. In combination, an elevator shaft', doors in said shaft, a lock for each door, comprising means adapted to receive a projection on said door and retain said projection in any one of a plurality of locking positions and means rendered operative by an .initial opening movement of said door for releasing said locking means.

19,. in combination, an elevator shaft, doors in said shaft, a. lock for each door, each lock comprising means adapted to receive a projection on said door and retain said projection in any one of a plurality of locking positions, means rendered operative by an initial opening movement of said door for releasing said locking means, and means intensa rendering saidreleasing means inoperative When the elevator car 1s in motion.

13. In combination, an elevator shaft, doors in said shaft, a lock for each door, each lock comprising means 4adapted to receive a projection on said door and retain said projection in any one of a plurality of locking positions, means rendered operative by an initial opening movement of said door for releasing said locking means, and means rendering said releasing `means inoperative Whenthe elevator car is not op posite the door.

14. In combination, an elevator shaft, doors in said shaft, a lock for each door,- each lock comprising means adapted to receive a projection on said door and retain said projection in any one of a plurality of locking positions, means rendered operative by an initial opening movement of said door for releasing said locking means, and means rendering vsaid releasing` means inoperative when the elevator car is not at rest opposite the door.

15. ln a device of the class described, a rotary disk, a notch in the periphery of said disk adapted to receive and retain a locking hook, tWo contact plates on the pe riphery of said disk, and a set of fingers engaging each contact plate during a predetermined portion of the rotary movement of said disk.

16. In a device of the class described, a rotary disk, a notch in the periphery of said disk adapted to receive and retain a locking hook, tvvo contact plates on the periphery of said disk, a set of fingers engaging each contact plate during a predetermined portion of the rotary movement of said disk, a plurality of projections on said disk, and a locking paWl adapted to engage said projections 17. The combination recited in claim 16 in which the spacing of said contact plates and said locking projections around the periphery of said disk is such that upon motion of said disk in a given direction the following events occur in the order named; first, one of said Contact plates establishes contact between the corresponding set of fingers, second, one of said locking projections passes the line of motion of the tip of said paivl, third, the other contact plate establishes connection between its set of fingers,I fourth, the last of said locking projections passes the line of motion of the tip of said paivl, and fifth, the first mentioned contact plate passes out from under its set of fingers.

18. In combination` an elevator shaft, doors in said shaft, locks for said doors, said locks each comprising a movable member adapted to receive a projection on the door and retain it in any one of a plurality of locking positions, electrical releas- Lavaca? ing means adapted When operative to allow any desired movement of said door Without engaging said locking means, means adapted to prevent the operation of said electrical releasing means When the elevator car is in motion, and additional means adapted to permit operation of said releasing means only When the elevator car is opposite the door.

19. In a device of the class described, in combination, a casing, a pivoted disk in said casing, peripheral contact plates onsaid disk adapted to control electric circuits, a notch in said disk adaptedto receive a. hook-shaped member and retain it Within said casing, a mechanical locking means for said disk, and electrical means controlled by a segment on said disk for releasing said mechanical means. t

20. ln a device of the class described, a

casing, a rotatable disk in said casing, said disk having a notch and being adapted to receive a hook-shaped member and be moved by it into any one of a plurality of locking positions, and peripheral contact plates on said disk adapted to control electrical circuits. n

21. In an automatic lock for an elevator system, a pivoted disk of insulating material, a notch in the periphery of said disk adapted to engage a moving element and be moved thereby and peripheral Contact plates on said disks adapted to operate control circuits to release the disk itself and to prevent operation of the car during rotation of said disk through a predetermined portion of its movement.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand.

y JOHN F. CLANCY. 

